T in the Park: Fiona Hyslop to be questioned over £150,000 grant

Documents received via FOI heavily cnesored by the Scottish Governement

Scotland's T in the Park Festival in 2007 (Getty Images)

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop will be asked to explain why the Scottish government gave £150,000 to T in the Park festival.

The SNP minister will appear before Holyrood committee to explain why the grant was given. Accusations of “cronyism” were previosly made against the MSP after Alex Samond’s former spin-doctor, Jennifer Dempsie, was thought to be involved in brokering the deal. Dempise, who was working as a project manager for DF concerts, arranged a meeting between Hyslop and T in the Park boss Geoff Ellis while working on a contract for the festival.

The festival moved site earlier this year to Strathallan Castle, and received the six figure sum to accommodate the move. Conservative MSP Liz Smith said at the time there needed to be “absolute clarity and transparency” over the matter.

Ms Hyslop has insisted funding was in line with the amounts given to other events. However, questions have been raised over the funding after the SNP released information regarding the case in an FOI request.

According to festival organisers, Dempsie was only involved with setting up the meeting between Ellis and Hyslop. However, Labout MSP John Pentland said that some serious questions need to be asked in regards why the deal happaned.

He said, according to BBC: "We need some honesty from the SNP government about this £150,000 payment and the extent of the involvement of a former SNP adviser.

"At a time when the SNP government is slashing the budget for local services, people will find it difficult to understand how such a successful company needs an extra £150,000 from the taxpayer."

The Scottish government has said that: “The First Minister has concluded that the cabinet Secretary acted appropriately.”

This year’s event was heavily criticised for it’s organisation, with people waiting many hours to leave the site. Police were also called in to investigate a video of a man who was bottled over the head.